Joseph Mar Thoma
Joseph Mar Thoma (27 June 1931 – 18 October 2020) (Syriac: ܡܺܝܛܪܳܦܽܠܶܝܬܳܐ ܕܟܽܘܪܣܝܳܐ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܝܳܐ ܕܡܰܠܰܒܰܪ ܐܰܒܽܘܢ ܝܰܘܣܶܝܦ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܬܳܐܘܡܳܐ܀) was the 21st Marthoma Metropolitan[1] and primate of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church headquartered in Kerala, India.
His Grace the Most Reverend Aboon Joseph Mar Thoma Mar Thoma XXI | |
|---|---|
| Of the Apostolic See of St.Thomas | |
 | |
| Church | Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church |
| Installed | 2 October 2007 |
| Predecessor | Philipose Mar Chrysostom Marthoma Valiya Metropolitan |
| Successor | Theodosius Mar Thoma |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 18 October 1957 |
| Consecration | 8 February 1975 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | P. T. Joseph |
| Born | 27 June 1931 Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Travancore, British Raj |
| Died | 18 October 2020 (aged 89) Tiruvalla, Kerala |
| Buried | Syrian Christian Seminary, Tiruvalla |
| Nationality | Indian |
Early days
Palakunnathu family
In the seventeenth century Kerala, a member of the Panamkuzhy house of Kuruvalingadu, Kuruvilla came and settled in Kozhencherry on the banks of river Pampa. Later he and his three sons moved to Maramon, and lived at Chackkalyil, on the other side of the river. The second son's second son in that family, Mathen moved to a nearby house at Palakunnathu. He had six sons and a daughter. The daughter was married to Mallapally Pavoothikunnel family and the first four sons moved to Themoottil, Neduvelil (Kozhenchery), Periyilel, and Punamadom (Othera). The fifth son was a celibate priest (sanyasi achen). As was the custom, the youngest son Mathew lived at Palakunnathu family house and married Pandanattu Mullasseril Mariamma. (This house still exists). Abraham Malpan, a leader of reformation in Malankara church was the second son of Mathew and Mariamma. Mar Thoma XIII was his nephew, his older brother's son. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIV) and Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XV) were the sons of Abraham Malpan.
A number of other Malankara Church and Marthoma Church leaders were also born in this family.Abraham Malpan, Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIII), Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIV) and Titus II Mar Thoma were from this family. Joseph Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma XXI), is also from this family.[2][3]
Early life
P.T. Joseph was born on 27 June 1931, as the son of Palakunnathu T. Lukose of Maramon Palakunnathu Kadon House and Mariamma, also of Maramon Puthoor House (now both deceased).
After his education at Maramon and Kozhencherry, he joined Union Christian College Aluva where he also played for the college basketball team.[4]
Ordination
Joseph always wanted an academic career, but when he was called to take up theological studies he readily accepted it. So, in 1954, he joined the United Theological College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree.
He was ordained as deacon of the Mar Thoma Church on 29 June 1957, and kasseessa (priest) on 18 October 1957. He then continued his studies at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary in Virginia, United States. From there he went to Canterbury and Oxford in England and obtained Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degrees. He was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the Virginia Seminary where he studied.
Consecration
Realizing the need for more bishops for the Mar Thoma Church, the Church Mandalam (representative assembly) in 1974, decided to consecrate two more bishops. The Rev. P.T. Joseph was one of those who were selected. He was ordained as Ramban on 11 January 1975.
Episcopa
On 8 February 1975, Juhanon Mar Thoma, Metropolitan, assisted by the other bishops of the church ordained the Rev. P.T. Joseph and was given the episcopal title of Joseph Mar Irenaeus. The Rev. V.T. Koshy, Easow Mar Timotheos, was also ordained on the same day.
Suffragan metropolitan
He was designated as suffragan metropolitan on 15 March 1999, when Philipose Mar Chrysostom, the suffragan metropolitan, was designated as the officiating metropolitan.
Metropolitan
Malankara throne
After the swearing-in of 1653 it became necessary to appoint a bishop. For this purpose, a special chair was made and Mar Thoma I the first bishop of Malankara Church was enthroned. This throne, used for the consecration of Mar Thoma I, is in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church and is kept at Tiruvalla. It has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma metropolitan to this day so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma XXI, Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
It is said that after Thomas Mar Athanasius lost the case against the Bava Faction (Orthodox and Jacobites) he had come back to the old seminary in Kottayam to vacate his room; some members of the church out of resentment had emptied everything inside and kept it outside the premises along with the Malankara Throne. By seeing the insignificance of a chair, they put out the chair to say isn't this the claim of your independent roots, take this degradable "Throne of Mar Thoma", Thomas Mar Athanasius had to then take that chair also which had by then broken a leg back to Maramon.
Enthronement
Joseph Mar Irenaeus was installed as Mar Thoma XXI Metropolitan on 2 October 2007 when the 20th Mar Thoma, Philipose Mar Chrysostom expressed his desire to transfer responsibilities of the church to his successor due to old age and deteriorating health. He continues as Valiya Metropolitan (Metropolitan Emeritus).
Contributions
He was the President of the National Council of Churches in India, Senior President of CCA, and the chairman of CASA.
His activities included growing sanctions of building many socio-spiritual centers with megalithic monuments. E.g: Tharangam - Mission Action Centre, which can also be used as the secondary venue for diocese activities which were before held adjacent to the spacious building near the Bishop House.[5] Introduction of music and other attractive worship styles to target the younger generation (via DSMC studio, Blogs, Camps, Channel... etc.).
Joseph Mar Thoma advocated protecting the environment. He has warned that atrocities to nature are suicidal and has urged people to take remedial measures by adopting responsible green conservatism. He also personally campaigned for the protection of Pampa River on whose bed the famed Maramon Convention is hosted.
Ordination dates
| Ordained as deacon: 29 June 1957 |
| Ordained as kasseessa: 18 October 1957 |
| Ordained as ramban: 11 January 1975 |
| Consecrated as episcopa: 8 February 1975 |
| Designated as suffragan metropolitan: 15 March 1999 |
| Installed as metropolitan: 2 October 2007 |
Succession
| Preceded by Philipose Chrysostom Marthoma (Mar Thoma XX) |
Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Mar Thoma XXI) 2007–2020 |
Succeeded by Theodosius Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma XXII) |
Death
Joseph Mar Thoma died on 18 October 2020 at 2:38 AM as a result of pancreatic cancer.[6]
See also
- Throne of St. Thomas
- Syrian Malabar Nasrani
- Saint Thomas Christians
- Christianity in India
- List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis
References
- "Kerala: Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, head of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, dies aged 89 – Times of India". Times of India. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- Cherian Cherian. Maramon Pakalomattom Chackalyil Kudumba Charitram - 1958. (Family History of Maramon Pakalomattom Chackalyil).
- N. M. Mathew, The Palakunnathu Family - 2003.
- "His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan – Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church".
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Dr Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan dies at 90". Kerala Kaumudi. Thiruvalla. 18 October 2020 – via Kerala Kaumudi Online (keralakaumudi.com).
Further reading
- Mathew, N. M. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1 (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J. Institute, Thiruvalla.
